England Team Strength Called 'Absurd' - Wales Boss Bellamy
- Published
Friendly match: England v Wales
Venue: London's Wembley, the capital Date: October 9th Kick-off: 7:45 PM BST
Craig Bellamy states the English player pool is remarkable that matchmakers wouldn't pair them against the Welsh team.
Bellamy's men meet England in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday before their crucial World Cup qualifier against Belgium next the following week.
National team coach Thomas Tuchel has left the likes of Jude Bellingham, Foden and Jack Grealish out of his squad for the Wales friendly and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
"The English have a incredible squad, similar to France," the coach said.
"They have a market valuation of 1.4 billion pounds, Wales' is 170 million. Were you a fight promoter, you wouldn't match us up. That wouldn't be permitted."
He explains making sure Wales can face the talented opponents is a "key motivation".
Bellamy continued: "We do not rely on values, but the reality is they have more than a single lineup. They possess multiple and the French and other nations are similarly stacked. They have many great players and that's the honest truth."
"One right-back went out injured the recently and there's only 24 more to choose from! They've got over sixty footballers. I'd love us to be stacked like them."
These two nations most recently met at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, when the English ran out comfortable victors in a group match before Gareth Southgate's side reached the quarter-finals.
The new manager is Thomas Tuchel, a European and world club winner at the London club who has claimed league championships in France and his native Germany.
Bellamy was previously an coach at Anderlecht and Burnley to Kompany, who succeeded him at the German giants.
"Tuchel's an incredible manager - his record is proven," Bellamy noted.
"I possess some sort of insight because the club he left I am familiar with people who have joined. I gain a glimpse from that of his methods and it's remarkable. "
"His strategic planning is top level and I aimed to be facing such a challenge - observe how you're going to adapt because he adapts too. I will get to learn from it. I'd love to reach such heights."
Welsh Team Selection
Keepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds United), Adam Davies (Sheffield United), Tom King (the Toffees).
Defenders: Cabango (Swansea), Dasilva (Coventry City), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Kpakio (Cardiff), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff City), Mepham (West Brom), Joe Rodon (Leeds), Williams (Forest).
Midfield: Ampadu (Leeds United), Brooks (Bournemouth), Jordan James (Leicester City - on loan from Rennes), Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Sorba Thomas (Stoke), Harry Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff City), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City).
Forwards: Broadhead (Wrexham), Cullen (Swansea), Harris (Oxford United), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham - loaned by Liverpool), Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).